Bob Perry has long been known as the primary financier of the Forces of Evil. And he has long been known as the primary financier of Rick Perry. So why try to hide the fact?
What is the point of Bob Perry giving $1 million to the Republican Governors Association so that the Republican Governors Association can give $1 million to Rick Perry?
There is only one possible explanation; they were trying to hide the fact that Bob Perry was giving Rick Perry $1 million more. Why would they try to hide that?
It is certainly no secret that Bob Perry has contributed tons of money to Rick Perry and to such notable groups as The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
And it is no secret that Bob Perry has gotten virtually everything he has wanted from Rick Perry and the Republican led Texas Legislature. Tort reform and a pro-industry Texas Residential Construction Commission come to mind.
Did either Perry do anything illegal? Maybe not. Did the Republican Governors Association violate Texas election law? Maybe, probably not. Does Chris Bell’s lawsuit have a chance? Nope. (Hope there is no way for it to wind up in Sharon Keller’s court or Bell might get the death penalty.)
Was it stupid to try to hide the contribution? Absolutely.
Didn’t Craddick and Bill Hammond teach you anything? Didn’t you learn anything from Nixon? It is never what you did that really gets you; it is when you try to cover it up that you get into trouble.
Another $1 million from Bob Perry would have been a one day story. Now let’s watch it play out.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
They really, really do have WMDs
What should the leader of the free world do to the country that is harboring the terrorist who directed the attack on America on 9/11?
What should the leader of the free world do to the country whose military dictator suspends the constitution and cancels free elections?
Clearly the answer is he should give them $150 million a month. Forever.
That must be the right answer, or why else would George W. Bush be doing so. There has been little doubt that Osama bin Laden has been hiding in the mountain areas of Pakistan for years now. But our “friend” Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has made only half-hearted shows of searching for him and has not allowed US troops into his country to search on their own. But he has been such a good “friend” we have sent him $11 billion since 9/11.
Funny that on 9/10 we were enforcing economic sanctions on Pakistan for such transgressions as testing a nuclear weapon in 1998 and our “friend” Gen. Musharraf taking control of the country in a coup in 1999.
And what have we gotten for our $11 billion? Not Osama bin Laden. And now not democracy.
Dick the Butcher’s famous line in Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part II has been taken to heart in Pakistan.
“First thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”
In fairness we don’t know that Musharraf has had all the lawyers killed, yet. But he has had something like 3500 of them arrested. Why? So there is no one left to protest the fact that he has suspended the constitution and disbanded the courts.
But don’t worry our government is taking stern steps. George W. has already stepped forward with stern words about how they should have elections over there. Condoleezza Rice has gone so far as to say that if this activity continues we may even have to review our aid package.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/04/AR2007110400463.html?nav=rss_world
Really? We’re going to let little things like harboring the most wanted terrorist in the world and suspending all efforts at democracy come between us and our “friend.”
Well, no not really. We’re just going to review it. The $150 million will be given again next month, and the next, and the next, and…….. Who knows, maybe the review will determine that we just need to send them a little more. Maybe $200 million a month would help them more. After all, we can afford it. We’re only $9 trillion in debt. That’s $9,000,000,000,000.00. Our grandchildren’s grandchildren will be paying for this.
But it could get worse. Much worse. Remember the sanctions we imposed in 1998? We did that because they developed nuclear weapons. Not that somebody named Curveball said they wanted to develop nuclear weapons. But because they really did. We saw the explosion we they tested it. It works.
Pakistan is on the verge of becoming highly unstable and there are known terrorists there. What could possible go wrong?
“Send lawyers, guns and money. Dad, get me out of this.” Warren Zevon
What should the leader of the free world do to the country whose military dictator suspends the constitution and cancels free elections?
Clearly the answer is he should give them $150 million a month. Forever.
That must be the right answer, or why else would George W. Bush be doing so. There has been little doubt that Osama bin Laden has been hiding in the mountain areas of Pakistan for years now. But our “friend” Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has made only half-hearted shows of searching for him and has not allowed US troops into his country to search on their own. But he has been such a good “friend” we have sent him $11 billion since 9/11.
Funny that on 9/10 we were enforcing economic sanctions on Pakistan for such transgressions as testing a nuclear weapon in 1998 and our “friend” Gen. Musharraf taking control of the country in a coup in 1999.
And what have we gotten for our $11 billion? Not Osama bin Laden. And now not democracy.
Dick the Butcher’s famous line in Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part II has been taken to heart in Pakistan.
“First thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”
In fairness we don’t know that Musharraf has had all the lawyers killed, yet. But he has had something like 3500 of them arrested. Why? So there is no one left to protest the fact that he has suspended the constitution and disbanded the courts.
But don’t worry our government is taking stern steps. George W. has already stepped forward with stern words about how they should have elections over there. Condoleezza Rice has gone so far as to say that if this activity continues we may even have to review our aid package.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/04/AR2007110400463.html?nav=rss_world
Really? We’re going to let little things like harboring the most wanted terrorist in the world and suspending all efforts at democracy come between us and our “friend.”
Well, no not really. We’re just going to review it. The $150 million will be given again next month, and the next, and the next, and…….. Who knows, maybe the review will determine that we just need to send them a little more. Maybe $200 million a month would help them more. After all, we can afford it. We’re only $9 trillion in debt. That’s $9,000,000,000,000.00. Our grandchildren’s grandchildren will be paying for this.
But it could get worse. Much worse. Remember the sanctions we imposed in 1998? We did that because they developed nuclear weapons. Not that somebody named Curveball said they wanted to develop nuclear weapons. But because they really did. We saw the explosion we they tested it. It works.
Pakistan is on the verge of becoming highly unstable and there are known terrorists there. What could possible go wrong?
“Send lawyers, guns and money. Dad, get me out of this.” Warren Zevon
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Recommeded Reading
“Exile” by Richard North Patterson
Although a work of fiction it is clearly very well researched. The story line is that the Prime Minister of Israel is assassinated in San Francisco. A Palestinian woman is arrested as the leader of a conspiracy to carry out the assassination. She is defended by a Jewish attorney.
Most of the book is a search for the root cause of the assassination, which is obviously the root cause of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The author, a NY Times Bestseller several times, is a wonderful story teller who goes to great lengths to examine the issues from both the Jewish and the Muslim points of view, with a couple of Christian Arab characters thrown in.
The primary question of the book is “When does history begin?”
How one answers that question is the key to how one views the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (and probably most others as well.)
As Americans, it is difficult for us to relate to people who are still caught up in the past. There are people all over the world who are constrained by the history of their ancestors in ways we do not understand. We believe history started either at our birth, 1836 if you are a true Texan, or 1776 . Maybe at 1492, but nothing much happened for nearly 300 years after that.
And we don’t worry much about what happened in the past either. We don’t hold a grudge against the British. We Texans don’t even hate Mexico. But other people are obsessed by history and the land of their forefathers. They are consumed by hatred for wrongs perpetrated generations ago. That is difficult for us to understand, but important for us to realize.
The only war Americans can’t seem to get over (other than the one we can’t currently get out of) is Vietnam. We don’t hate the Vietnamese, but we are obsessed with the Vietnam War and its reason and its outcome anytime we consider another conflict.
Of course, Vietnam is also the only war we didn’t win.
They say that history is written by the victors, but it seems it is perhaps remembered more by the losers. They remember and it festers, for generations. Understanding that is hard, but it is very real.
The lesson is likely that Muslims will hate our great-great grandchildren because of George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq. We are not winning “The War on Terrorism.” We are creating a feud that will never end.
Although a work of fiction it is clearly very well researched. The story line is that the Prime Minister of Israel is assassinated in San Francisco. A Palestinian woman is arrested as the leader of a conspiracy to carry out the assassination. She is defended by a Jewish attorney.
Most of the book is a search for the root cause of the assassination, which is obviously the root cause of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The author, a NY Times Bestseller several times, is a wonderful story teller who goes to great lengths to examine the issues from both the Jewish and the Muslim points of view, with a couple of Christian Arab characters thrown in.
The primary question of the book is “When does history begin?”
How one answers that question is the key to how one views the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (and probably most others as well.)
As Americans, it is difficult for us to relate to people who are still caught up in the past. There are people all over the world who are constrained by the history of their ancestors in ways we do not understand. We believe history started either at our birth, 1836 if you are a true Texan, or 1776 . Maybe at 1492, but nothing much happened for nearly 300 years after that.
And we don’t worry much about what happened in the past either. We don’t hold a grudge against the British. We Texans don’t even hate Mexico. But other people are obsessed by history and the land of their forefathers. They are consumed by hatred for wrongs perpetrated generations ago. That is difficult for us to understand, but important for us to realize.
The only war Americans can’t seem to get over (other than the one we can’t currently get out of) is Vietnam. We don’t hate the Vietnamese, but we are obsessed with the Vietnam War and its reason and its outcome anytime we consider another conflict.
Of course, Vietnam is also the only war we didn’t win.
They say that history is written by the victors, but it seems it is perhaps remembered more by the losers. They remember and it festers, for generations. Understanding that is hard, but it is very real.
The lesson is likely that Muslims will hate our great-great grandchildren because of George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq. We are not winning “The War on Terrorism.” We are creating a feud that will never end.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Boogey Man's Going to Get You Too.
If nothing else you have to give Tom Craddick credit for his ability to spin.
Headline in today’s Midland Reporter-Telegram is “Craddick says trial lawyers want new speaker to remove malpractice caps.”
http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18954138&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=6
While that may be true, it is certainly not the reason that his leadership is being challenged. But trial lawyers are the right wing boogey man, so if you can paint any issue with their taint then you can get the wingnut base to rally around. The headline could just as easily read:
“Educators Want New Speaker to Ensure Adequate Funding for Public Education.”
“Child Advocates Want New Speaker to Protect Children’s Health Benefits.”
“Open Government Advocates Want New Speaker to Access Public Records.”
But those don’t have the same cache as “trial lawyers.”
This headline is the same as Bush saying we invaded Iraq in order to bring them freedom and democracy. Sure those things are on the list of things that could be accomplished, but he sold the war on WMDs. The real reasons were ousting Saddam and oil. Freedom and democracy were afterthoughts.
Just as tort reform is at best an afterthought to those seeking to oust Craddick. Sure maybe Dunnam and some of his cohorts would like to change the tort reform laws that have been passed, but they don’t have the ability to oust the Speaker. No, the Speaker is getting ousted by members of his own party who have little or no affection for the trials. It is being done because of his autocratic leadership style and his disdain for the will of the House.
But if Rove & Co. have taught us nothing else, we now know that if you say something long enough and loud enough some people will start to believe it and repeat it over and over on the radio until lots of people believe it. Cynics call it “drinking the kool-aid.”
If you believe Keffer, Pitts, McCall etc. want to overthrow Craddick because of tort reform and the trial lawyers, the Curmudgeon has got a bridge for sale.
Headline in today’s Midland Reporter-Telegram is “Craddick says trial lawyers want new speaker to remove malpractice caps.”
http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18954138&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=6
While that may be true, it is certainly not the reason that his leadership is being challenged. But trial lawyers are the right wing boogey man, so if you can paint any issue with their taint then you can get the wingnut base to rally around. The headline could just as easily read:
“Educators Want New Speaker to Ensure Adequate Funding for Public Education.”
“Child Advocates Want New Speaker to Protect Children’s Health Benefits.”
“Open Government Advocates Want New Speaker to Access Public Records.”
But those don’t have the same cache as “trial lawyers.”
This headline is the same as Bush saying we invaded Iraq in order to bring them freedom and democracy. Sure those things are on the list of things that could be accomplished, but he sold the war on WMDs. The real reasons were ousting Saddam and oil. Freedom and democracy were afterthoughts.
Just as tort reform is at best an afterthought to those seeking to oust Craddick. Sure maybe Dunnam and some of his cohorts would like to change the tort reform laws that have been passed, but they don’t have the ability to oust the Speaker. No, the Speaker is getting ousted by members of his own party who have little or no affection for the trials. It is being done because of his autocratic leadership style and his disdain for the will of the House.
But if Rove & Co. have taught us nothing else, we now know that if you say something long enough and loud enough some people will start to believe it and repeat it over and over on the radio until lots of people believe it. Cynics call it “drinking the kool-aid.”
If you believe Keffer, Pitts, McCall etc. want to overthrow Craddick because of tort reform and the trial lawyers, the Curmudgeon has got a bridge for sale.
But What if They Don't Want to Spend More Time With You?
How do you know a public figure is lying? No, not “they’re lips are moving.” Although that answer is correct far too often. No the surest way to know is that they say they are retiring, resigning, dropping out, etc in order to “Spend More Time With Their Family.”
The latest scammer to use this line is Mikal Watts, former Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. The Curmudgeon does not know for sure why Mr. Watts chose to drop out at this point after spending several months campaigning and committing millions of his own dollars to the campaign, but here’s betting it wasn’t to spend more time with the family.
A few things have popped up. One is a criminal investigation into a “lawyer” who ain’t a lawyer in Corpus Christi. Mauricio Celis was apparently an extremely successful ambulance chaser who would get cases and refer them to other plaintiff’s attorneys. Problem was Celis is not actually a lawyer. Apparently, in Texas, it is illegal for a non-lawyer to chase after ambulances. Actually it only illegal for them to get a referral fee from an actual lawyer.
Celis referred some clients to Watts. Oops!
The point is Mr. Watts had a family before the decided to run. He had a pretty good idea of the size of Texas and the time commitment it would take to run a campaign here.
Lots of politicians have claimed they were quitting in order to spend more time with the family. In virtually every case is meant they were being forced out, about to get defeated, about to get caught, or vested. But it never meant what they said it meant.
The latest scammer to use this line is Mikal Watts, former Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. The Curmudgeon does not know for sure why Mr. Watts chose to drop out at this point after spending several months campaigning and committing millions of his own dollars to the campaign, but here’s betting it wasn’t to spend more time with the family.
A few things have popped up. One is a criminal investigation into a “lawyer” who ain’t a lawyer in Corpus Christi. Mauricio Celis was apparently an extremely successful ambulance chaser who would get cases and refer them to other plaintiff’s attorneys. Problem was Celis is not actually a lawyer. Apparently, in Texas, it is illegal for a non-lawyer to chase after ambulances. Actually it only illegal for them to get a referral fee from an actual lawyer.
Celis referred some clients to Watts. Oops!
The point is Mr. Watts had a family before the decided to run. He had a pretty good idea of the size of Texas and the time commitment it would take to run a campaign here.
Lots of politicians have claimed they were quitting in order to spend more time with the family. In virtually every case is meant they were being forced out, about to get defeated, about to get caught, or vested. But it never meant what they said it meant.
Friday, October 19, 2007
How Can She Sleep at Night?
The Curmudgeon is about two weeks late in his indignation this time, but better to rant late than to never have ranted at all.
Sharon Keller. Really that is all that needs to be said.
The Curmudgeon will admit to a couple of moderately liberal beliefs, but deep down we all return to our raising. And the Curmudgeon comes from a long line of West Texas, Southern Baptist, Bible Thumpin’, old –time religion believing curmudgeons. Down deep he believes more in the “eye-for-an-eye” philosophy than he does in the “turn the other cheek.” So he believes the death penalty is a punishment that should be in consideration for certain crimes and certain criminals. But it has to be taken seriously. You don’t get a re-do on this one.
Texas, of course, leads the way when it comes to using the death penalty. We have used it more often than any (maybe all) other state. Our record is not spotless and we have almost certainly executed some innocent men. We have been pretty callous about the process. Our former Governor and the Only President We’ve Got mocked Karla Faye Tucker when she pleaded not to be executed.
“`Please,' Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, `don't kill me,' "
Excerpts from The Houston Chronicle August 10, 1999
The State of Texas argued that a man whose attorney repeatedly fell asleep during his trial gave him adequate counsel. The Solicitor General (whose name I won’t mention because he/she gets pissed when I do) told the Curmudgeon that he needed to prove something bad happened because of his attorney sleeping through the trial. The SC did not find the Curmudgeon’s argument of, “Well, he is on DEATH ROW! That is on the something bad happening list,” to be very persuasive.
But now we have Sharon Keller.
A man died on Sept. 25th because Sharon Keller decided that the Court would close promptly at 5:00. Even though the attorneys for Michael Richard had called to notify the Court that their computer had broken down and that they needed about twenty extra minutes. Even though three other justices of the Court of Criminal Appeals were staying late to rule on the matter, didn’t matter.
Sharon Keller closed the clerk’s office without consulting anyone else so that the petition could not be filed. Michael Richard was executed that night. Why? It’s 5 o’clock!! It’s Miller Time!!
Having never been convicted of a felony, nor obtained a law license, the Curmudgeon has never paid much attention to the Court of Criminal Appeals. Apparently neither has anyone else in Texas. How could this happen in 2007? Where did we get a judge like this? We elected her.
The Curmudgeon knows that the Forces of Evil have been considering pushing for some sort of “judicial selection” for a while now. Because of who was behind it, the Curmudgeon has been his usual skeptical self, but if this is what we elect, we have to have a new system.
The Curmudgeon is not here to argue that Michael Richard was innocent. Mr. Richard was apparently a bad, bad man. But in my state, in 2007, we allow due process to run its full course. Even if it cuts into Happy Hour.
Sharon Keller. Really that is all that needs to be said.
The Curmudgeon will admit to a couple of moderately liberal beliefs, but deep down we all return to our raising. And the Curmudgeon comes from a long line of West Texas, Southern Baptist, Bible Thumpin’, old –time religion believing curmudgeons. Down deep he believes more in the “eye-for-an-eye” philosophy than he does in the “turn the other cheek.” So he believes the death penalty is a punishment that should be in consideration for certain crimes and certain criminals. But it has to be taken seriously. You don’t get a re-do on this one.
Texas, of course, leads the way when it comes to using the death penalty. We have used it more often than any (maybe all) other state. Our record is not spotless and we have almost certainly executed some innocent men. We have been pretty callous about the process. Our former Governor and the Only President We’ve Got mocked Karla Faye Tucker when she pleaded not to be executed.
“`Please,' Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, `don't kill me,' "
Excerpts from The Houston Chronicle August 10, 1999
The State of Texas argued that a man whose attorney repeatedly fell asleep during his trial gave him adequate counsel. The Solicitor General (whose name I won’t mention because he/she gets pissed when I do) told the Curmudgeon that he needed to prove something bad happened because of his attorney sleeping through the trial. The SC did not find the Curmudgeon’s argument of, “Well, he is on DEATH ROW! That is on the something bad happening list,” to be very persuasive.
But now we have Sharon Keller.
A man died on Sept. 25th because Sharon Keller decided that the Court would close promptly at 5:00. Even though the attorneys for Michael Richard had called to notify the Court that their computer had broken down and that they needed about twenty extra minutes. Even though three other justices of the Court of Criminal Appeals were staying late to rule on the matter, didn’t matter.
Sharon Keller closed the clerk’s office without consulting anyone else so that the petition could not be filed. Michael Richard was executed that night. Why? It’s 5 o’clock!! It’s Miller Time!!
Having never been convicted of a felony, nor obtained a law license, the Curmudgeon has never paid much attention to the Court of Criminal Appeals. Apparently neither has anyone else in Texas. How could this happen in 2007? Where did we get a judge like this? We elected her.
The Curmudgeon knows that the Forces of Evil have been considering pushing for some sort of “judicial selection” for a while now. Because of who was behind it, the Curmudgeon has been his usual skeptical self, but if this is what we elect, we have to have a new system.
The Curmudgeon is not here to argue that Michael Richard was innocent. Mr. Richard was apparently a bad, bad man. But in my state, in 2007, we allow due process to run its full course. Even if it cuts into Happy Hour.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Yeah, But Who Do The Troops Support?
The Curmudgeon has always been skeptical of what people say, but much less so if they are willing to put their own money behind it. If a person (not a Lobbyist who is playing both sides for security reasons, but a real person) is willing to contribute to a campaign then they probably really do support that candidate.
So it surprises no one that the person raising the most money from Mormons is Mitt Romney. Nor would one be surprised to learn that John Edwards is getting lots of money from trial lawyers.
But how about military personnel? You know, the ones fighting and dying in Iraq. Who is likely the choice amongst them? Well, if money is the best away to judge (and the Curmudgeon argues it is) then they support the one Republican candidate with the cojones to say we should get out of Iraq. Today!!
That’s right Ron Paul, Best of All, Best of All Ron Paul is the leading recipient of campaign contributions from military personnel. And Barak Obama is second.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5223477.html
Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, former commander in Iraq, had this to say this week, “America is living a nightmare with no end in sight.” He joins a pretty long list of generals who are speaking out as soon as they retire. They can’t while they are on active duty, but once they regain their freedom of speech they are railing against the war and the Bush Administration’s horrendous management.
The Curmudgeon has repeatedly been told that we can’t just leave Iraq. He has never quite grasped the concept of why not. Are we worried a war might break out? Too late. Now our only ally has decided that you can indeed just leave. The British are packing their bags even as we speak. By the end of the year they will be down to about 4500 troops in Iraq, about ten percent of what they used to have.
Makes one wonder what changed in England to make them willing to pull their troops. Oh yeah, now I remember, someone new is living at 10 Downing now.
January 2009 cannot get here fast enough.
So it surprises no one that the person raising the most money from Mormons is Mitt Romney. Nor would one be surprised to learn that John Edwards is getting lots of money from trial lawyers.
But how about military personnel? You know, the ones fighting and dying in Iraq. Who is likely the choice amongst them? Well, if money is the best away to judge (and the Curmudgeon argues it is) then they support the one Republican candidate with the cojones to say we should get out of Iraq. Today!!
That’s right Ron Paul, Best of All, Best of All Ron Paul is the leading recipient of campaign contributions from military personnel. And Barak Obama is second.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5223477.html
Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, former commander in Iraq, had this to say this week, “America is living a nightmare with no end in sight.” He joins a pretty long list of generals who are speaking out as soon as they retire. They can’t while they are on active duty, but once they regain their freedom of speech they are railing against the war and the Bush Administration’s horrendous management.
The Curmudgeon has repeatedly been told that we can’t just leave Iraq. He has never quite grasped the concept of why not. Are we worried a war might break out? Too late. Now our only ally has decided that you can indeed just leave. The British are packing their bags even as we speak. By the end of the year they will be down to about 4500 troops in Iraq, about ten percent of what they used to have.
Makes one wonder what changed in England to make them willing to pull their troops. Oh yeah, now I remember, someone new is living at 10 Downing now.
January 2009 cannot get here fast enough.
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